Betsey Johnson's Runway Show Turned Birthday Bash

Backstage at Betsey Johnson's part birthday-bash, part runway-retrospective, things were getting wild. Television camera crews held court with balloons, champagne, and a model with a tiny pig. Yes, you read that correctly.

And then there was the original wild child, the pint-sized Johnson, bouncing from interview-to-interview, greeting reporters with bear hugs and red-lipstick kisses. At 70, and with innumerable years in the industry, she's still got it—but really, who was ever doubting? Certainly not the crazily crammed line of fans clad in their street-style-blogger-friendly best, or the diverse bunch working the red carpet, ranging from Wendy Williams and Rick "Zombie Boy" Genest to Fern Mallis and Lil' Kim.

ELLE: Hi Betsey!

Betsey Johnson: Is that Tina Turner on your shirt? Tina has been my inspiration for years and years and years. Her spirit, her legs, her music, her everything.

ELLE: Did Tina's moves inspire your own (and those cartwheels!)?

BJ: I was a dancer for years. I wanted to be a Broadway showgirl or a Rockette. I'm a costume designer, really. A lot of my work is straight from that dancing costume—little on top, puffy on bottom. Every little dress tells a story. It's a riot of a show because it's my life. This is a life retrospective, and all of my new brands. It goes from nuts, to crocodiles to inter-tubes. It's crazy!

Most Popular

ELLE: Who is a "Betsey girl"?

BJ: Just that she likes my clothes! I don't make her a Betsey girl. I'm happy for whoever who likes my stuff.

ELLE: Have you already celebrated your birthday or is this the big bang?

BJ: My real birthday was August 10th, so I spent that with all of my company people from the past. My good ole gang and my family. This is the big one, it's the industry bang. It's my best personal show of my life and my best all inclusive big bang fashion thing. It feels like the most fun show because I'm not panicked about reviews, the samples, shippings, the duplicates, the cuttings, returns, damages. I like being creative director.

ELLE: You look incredible. Fill us in on your beauty secrets.

BJ: I had a face lift when I turned fifty.

ELLE: Nice! And your hair makes us drool with jealousy.

BJ: I don't have my zigzags in yet! But the hair on the girls today was inspired by Young Frankenstein and even the original Frankenstein. And the makeup by Wonder Woman. It's very futuristic. But bold and strong. I still have to run through and check the girls.